And now it's time for another good idea, bad idea.

Whew, December has been a busy month.  Along with the usual seasonal parties and concerts, etc., we got to work extra shifts at work.  So on the Saturdays I wasn't working I was playing catch-up, not blogging.  Things have started to slow down now, and we got a 4 day weekend for Christmas, so I'm back to share with you one idea I'm pretty proud of... and another that didn't turn out quite so well.  

Good idea:

This doesn't really have anything to do with sustainability or healthy living (except that TOMS sells organic shoes, which I like) but I just thought it was an idea worth sharing, regardless of its relevance to the theme of this blog.

I had been wrestling with one of the great questions of life: whether or not it's okay to wear socks with TOMS.   A classic catch 22 scenario - should I look like a dork or have smelly feet?  The answer is neither!  You can have your socks and eat them too!  ...You know what I mean.

Instead of putting socks on your feet, you can put the socks on the insoles!  I pulled out the original insoles and use orthotic inserts because I work on my feet all day, which is what originally inspired me with the idea, but I suspect you could do this just as easily with the original insoles.  

I prefer this to no-show socks, because those usually don't stay in place for me and I find them uncomfortable.

Here's a handy dandy step-by-step graphic for you.  I simply put the sock on the insole upside down, so the hole faces down.  Then I put the insoles back in and ta daa!  The look of no socks, with the advantage of wash-ability and absence of odor!



Bad idea:

I've recently been learning about the virtues of activated charcoal.  Not the stuff you find at the bottom of your grill or on your overcooked steak, but the stuff that's sold as a supplement and is commonly used in water filters and poison control situations.  Activated charcoal has been purified and it has a high amount of surface area and is very porous, so it is highly ADsorbent.  This means it acts more like a magnet attracting substances to it, rather than dissolving substances in it (absorbent).  You can use it to whiten teeth, in facial scrubs, and to make mascara. 

I had been wanting to purchase some black eyeliner from 100% Pure for evening makeup looks, but I hadn't gotten around to in time to have some for my work Christmas party.  The day of the party, it occurred to me that if you could make mascara with activated charcoal (which I haven't tried yet, but is on my list), maybe you could make eyeliner!  So I opened a capsule and mixed it with some of my homemade moisturizer.  I applied with an angle brush, my usual method, and was quite happy with the look of it.  I headed off to my work party feeling pleased and slightly apprehensive.  I knew it wasn't a great idea to wear something in public that I hadn't tested around the house first, so I periodically rubbed under my eyes hoping to avoid the dreaded "raccoon eyes" and was hopeful that any crisis would be thus averted.

Alas, not so.  When I arrived home and looked in the mirror: no raccoon eyes.  Whew.  Then I noticed black flakes on my CHIN!  My first instinct was to frantically brush them away, so there is no picture for your enjoyment.  Fortunately I sat in the back at the party, the lights were rather dim, and I didn't mingle with very many people so I can laugh about it rather than feel terribly embarrassed.  When I do get around to attempting homemade mascara, I'll be sure to wear it around the house for several hours before I venture out.  : )

This Circular Thinking Is Making Me Dizzy

When we first began considering this process, we sought counsel from a good friend who is already doing much of what we're hoping to do and is much farther down the road.  His advice was to have someone take care of the farm full-time and to read the book You Can Farm by Joel Salatin.  I was immediately interested in being the full-time person, so I bought the book and read it.  It was fascinating and incredibly educational.  I was a few chapters in when I realized that the author was the man I called the "profound farmer" featured on Food, Inc., a documentary that was influential in our family's process.  Joel Salatin is now one of my favorite people, and I'm currently in the middle of Family Friendly Farming: A Multi-Generational Home-Based Business Testament.  Wow!

I guess I'll be a bit vulnerable here and tell you that the reason I was interested in being the full-time farmer is because, while I mostly enjoy my job, it's not exactly a meaningful career, and I don't have a family of my own, so I struggle sometimes with investing the bulk of my time and energy in doing something that isn't really meaningful to me.  For a season is one thing, but for nearly 15 years is another.  I've always had a soft spot for animals and several years ago I discovered a love of gardening and the outdoors.  This seems like an opportunity to invest my time and energy in something that will be more meaningful and ultimately fulfilling.  Now, I'm sure I'm romanticizing it in my imagination, but I'm just as sure that I'd still like to try it.

So I have a plan.  I think I'd be glad for the Lord to interrupt or rearrange my plans (famous last words), but I'd rather have specific goals than vague hopes.  In very simple terms, my plan/hope is to work at my job for another 1-3 years while I pay off all of my debt (other than my mortgage which someone else is paying anyway) and save enough to have a healthy sized cushion while I transition to working on the farm and possibly building a business out of it.

Here's where the circular thinking comes in.  I'll have a moment of frustration that the process is going so slowly, then I'll think, "Okay then, what can we do right now while we wait?"  Then I sigh deeply and think, "Not much.  I can barely keep up with my life as it is."  I want to start learning as much as can now instead of waiting until I can actually do it full-time, but I don't have much time for learning until I can quit my job.  Similarly, in reality, we have a relatively large yard and we could grow a lot of food in the space we have...possibly even have some laying hens and rabbits.  But we're trying to sell our house, and not only do I "not have time", but an attractive lawn is generally more appealing to potential buyers than a yard sized vegetable garden and animal poo.  Not only that, but we're interested in emergency preparedness (New York City is a prime example of why this is a good idea), but we don't want to stockpile things that will only have to be moved eventually.  We're trying to get rid of things before the move, not add more.  I feel a sense of urgency that it would be wisdom to do this sooner than later, but the process is not going quickly at all.  So I'm caught in this tension of wanting to do as much as I can as soon as I can, but feeling like I can't effectively do much at all.

 

I guess what's important is to continue doing what we are able to do as we are able to do it, and realizing that we have actually done quite a lot.  While I don't know that we've made much progress in the area of sustainability (other than learning, which really is valuable!), we are continuing to learn and make healthier choices in our food and health and beauty products.  Things like organic apples, cloth napkins, and homemade moisturizer are simple changes, but not insignificant ones!

Now an update.  The offer we made on the house in Mustang was a consignment offer, meaning their house stays on the market while we try to sell ours, and if they have another offer we have 3 days to come up with a plan to buy it even if our house hasn't sold.  We didn't know what kind of response we'd have to our house or how easy or difficult it would be to sell, but it looks like it's not going to be easy.  We haven't had a single official showing of our house.  Some neighbors across the street came over and asked to see it one day and said they might be interested but they'd have to sell their house first.  There has been no interest other than that.  I think houses in our neighborhood generally don't sell quickly, and our house is unique on top of that, having 5 bedrooms, etc.   Well, another offer was made on the house in Mustang and accepted.  We considered taking on 2 mortgages to make it work, but felt like that wasn't what the Lord was saying.  I think I'm equally relieved and disappointed.  While it was wonderful in so many ways, I think ultimately it was too far and too expensive.  I do feel a little sad if I think about it, but at the same time, I really haven't thought about it that much. We haven't processed it as a family yet, so I'm not sure where everyone else is, but I think I can confidently say that the bottom line is: we trust the Lord.

 

 

 

Leap of Faith: A Progress Report

Obedience to Someone intangible can be tricky.  Obedience to Someone intangible when 6 adult opinions are involved can be even trickier, but we're doing our best. 

A couple weeks ago we looked at a monster house (over 6000 square feet!!) on 7.5 acres in the city about 15 minutes away from the church building.  It was very impressive and very grand, and somewhat practical.  On one hand, we could have all fit (shyeah!), but on the other it would be very hard to be sustainable in a house that large.  On one hand, it was easy to love the idea of that house, but on the other I think everyone loved it but me.  I crave more open land in the country, and I'm fascinated by the notion of tiny houses and very seriously considering living in a bus.  Nonetheless, we were on the verge of making an offer.  Our concerns ultimately outweighed our enthusiasm, however, and we never followed through.

A few nights later at the dinner table my dad asked the family what we thought about going ahead and listing our house.  He had felt a release from the Lord a couple weeks ago that it was time, and that morning felt like the Lord told him we needed to be ready for quick action.  We went around the table and shared our responses to that idea. They were mixed.  I thought it made sense: it would force us to complete all the little projects we'd been putting off until we found the right place, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if God asked us to step out in faith before revealing the answer. 

The following Saturday, I thought about checking the real estate listings for anything new.  I've been the one that's done almost all of the searching and deciding what properties to go see.  Instead I decided to focus on being ready by working on some projects around the house, rather than investing time looking at listings.  The next morning I received an email about a new listing that I knew could be one of the strongest contenders yet.  We went to look at it three days later and learned that the house had been shown 20 times in four days, and there was talk of other offers, so we knew it would indeed be important to act quickly.  In response to what my dad had heard from the Lord and in agreement as a family, we made an offer that night.  Two days after that our offer was accepted, and two days after that our house was on the market.  In between Thanksgiving and Christmas isn't when most sane people try to move, so now it's really up to the Lord to send a buyer for our house.  I'm glad it's in His hands.  If this house is His will for us, He'll send a buyer and we'll be grateful for His provision.  If He doesn't, we'll be grateful that He prevented us from moving where He didn't want us to be.  

Because it happened so quickly, it's been interesting to see how people are processing the decision.  One of the reasons this house seemed so great is because it's already set up for multi-generational living.  The current owners were a family that lived in the main house, and one set of their parents who lived in a second, smaller house built into the workshop behind the main house.  The reason they're selling is because the couple that lived in the main house are divorcing.  When we looked at the house, the parents living in the smaller house were there and said they had thought that was going to be their forever home, and they weren't sure where to go from there.  This has been really difficult for my mom to process.  She feels like she doesn't want it at that expense.  

To be honest, I've had second thoughts as well.  I know my dad is willing to live there, and had peace about making the offer, but I also know that he really wanted to be closer to the church building and the people in our congregation.  Plus, while there's a workshop that appeals to Tim and John, a pool that appeals to me, a nearby small town that appeals to my mom, and a nice house that appeals to my sister, there's no catfish pond for my dad.   For his sake, I think I wouldn't be disappointed if it didn't work out.  I also have started to feel sentimental about our house.  My parents have lived in this house for nearly 17 years!  Part of me wishes we could sell it to someone we know so we could come back sometimes.  

I've been plagued by other doubts as well.  What about being incarnational?  Can we do what we feel God has called us to in the city where the people are?  Should we?  Is selfishness behind my desire to live in the country, or regarding the current political climate and decline of society is it wisdom and discerning the times to be somewhat removed from the city and more self sufficient?  Is it okay to be a Christian and live in the country?  That sounds like a silly question, but I've pondered it.  This house is so close to being exactly what we wanted, and yet...so far.  Literally.  Did we make a hasty decision or are we truly being obedient?

It does feel good though, to have finally have taken a significant step forward.  It will be interesting to see what happens.  Whatever the outcome, I'm glad it's in the Lord's hands.

DIY Dry Shampoo

I've been on quite a natural hair care journey.  I've read more crunchy blog posts about natural hair care than you can shake a stick at.  Where did that expression come from anyway?  Who are these people that shake sticks?  What sort of things do they shake them at?  I can't remember ever shaking a stick at anything.  Well, maybe a marshmallow on a stick over a fire...

Back to hair.  After a year of experimenting, I finally settled on shampoo and conditioner that I'm really pleased with, but now I'm going to talk about some of those days when I don't wash my hair.  I have discovered a dry shampoo recipe that I really like!  My hair is thin and fine and gets greasy really quickly.  I've over-shampooed for...ever, apparently.  Shampoo strips your hair of its natural oils, so your scalp freaks out and produces extra oil to make up for it, and it turns into a vicious cycle.  Supposedly, over time you can train your scalp to produce less oil by shampooing less frequently.  I used to shampoo every day, but about 7 or 8 months ago I started shampooing only every other day.  Perhaps my scalp produces less oil than it used to, but I'm still not happy with the way my hair looks the second day.  Dirty hair is one of my "things."  I'd typically rather leave the house with no makeup on than with unwashed hair.

Dry shampoo is a great way to stretch the amount of time between washings.  Back in my pre-crunch days, I used to use an aerosol dry shampoo.  It did the job, but I hated the smell, so I used it only in a pinch.  Post crunch, I tried several things I didn't like, starting with baking soda.  It performed acceptably, but because it's white, tended to make me look like I had graying roots.  Not okay.  Next, I read a book that suggested cocoa powder for brunettes.  I thought it sounded like a great idea but I ended up liking it even less than the baking soda.  The authors must not have been brunette.  Cocoa powder isn't as dark as you're probably imagining.  I think of it as dark because chocolate is dark, but cocoa powder is lighter and redder than chocolate.  Again, it performed acceptably, but noticeably stained my scalp a weird reddish color.  Not okay.  Then I think I read somewhere else about oatmeal ground into a powder then brushed out.  I succeeded only in looking like I had severe dandruff.  Really not okay.  I gave up for awhile.

Several months later, inspiration struck!   This happened probably around the time that I made my first batch of mineral veil.  It occurred to me to try the very same ingredients, but in different ratios.  For the mineral veil, I used arrowroot powder with a touch of cinnamon, but for the dry shampoo I use approximately:

          2 parts cinnamon
          1 part arrowroot powder

 I've been very happy with it!  It smells good, works well, doesn't make my scalp look weird, and I can leave the house feeling confident that my hair does not look greasy.

I store it in a glass spice jar, shake some out into my hands, rub them together, then rub them through my roots.  I let it sit for a minute, then brush through.  

This combination works for my hair color.  You might have to experiment with the ratio or the ingredients to find what works for you.  Straight baking soda or arrowroot might work very well for people with light hair.  For people with very dark hair, I'm not sure.  Allspice?  Comment if you have any ideas!

Mountain Rose Herbs is a great place to purchase ingredients. They sell high quality organic herbs and other products, and they are a fair trade company.  (Full disclosure, I do receive a small commission if you click the links on my blog and complete a purchase.

This post shared at Frugally Sustainable's Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways #81

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

DIY Daily Shower Spray

Most household cleaning products are full of harsh synthetic chemicals complete with warning labels, but did you know that you can replace almost all of your household cleaners with just a few ingredients that you probably already have around your house?  It's true!!  You'll even end up saving money!

The first cleaner I made myself was a daily shower spray.  I liked the idea of daily shower spray, but it smelled particularly insidious to me.  When I used to use a store bought brand, I would literally hold my breath while I sprayed it, try not to touch it or get it on me, and place a towel over my nose and mouth when I stepped out of the shower, gasping for breath because I hated the smell so much.  Then I decided to try making my own.

As usual, I scoured the internet reading several DIY recipes and settling on a combination that I am pleased with.  It's super easy and economical.

You'll need:

• 2 parts water
• 1 part white vinegar
• 1 part rubbing alcohol
• 1 tsp liquid castile (optional, not pictured)
• tea tree oil for its antiseptic qualities
• other essential oils for scent - lemon and eucalyptus are great for cleaning, but I also like the freshness of peppermint, rosemary, and lavender together.  Whatever you prefer!

If you strongly dislike the smell of vinegar, you could use hydrogen peroxide instead.  Just be sure to use an opaque container, as hydrogen peroxide degrades quickly when exposed to light.  Don't replace the rubbing alcohol with peroxide, however, because when you mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide a chemical reaction takes place and you end up with an unstable liquid called peracetic acid.

I simply rinsed and reused my shower spray container, and I usually use my bathroom cup and a funnel I keep in my bathroom to mix up a batch of this or that.  Fast, inexpensive, better for you, and I'm completely satisfied with its performance!  More DIY cleaning recipes coming soon!

You need to know about this cosmetics company!! (And a mini progress report.)

I'm in LOVE, I'm in LOVE, and I don't care who knows it!!!!!!!  ...With a cosmetics company.  

I usually experience a range of emotions when I realize something else in my life needs to change: a twinge of annoyance that effort will be required of me, a healthy dose of exasperation that I've been duped by the lure of marketing and the ease of convenience yet again, a bit of anticipation for the hunt (I like research),  and ultimately a cozy, satisfying feeling that I'm doing something better for my health.

So I realized that most of my makeup had to go.  Preservatives, synthetic chemicals, phthalates, parabens, petroleum, carcinogens...yuck.  The first change I made was a mineral veil/finishing powder replacement that I made myself and was very happy with.  You can read about that here.  Making everything else seemed a little out of my reach, though.  Maybe someday, when I have more time **scoff** I'll get into making my own cosmetics, but for now I need something ready made.  It took me several research attempts to find something that didn't disappoint when I read the list of ingredients.  I figured I'd just go with Bare Minerals...which I think is a good company and a good option.  But then I Googled one more time and found 100% Pure.  Not only was I not disappointed, I was ecstatic!!!  From their website:

100% Pure are the first and only cosmetics colored from antioxidant rich fruit and vegetable pigments. While other color cosmetics are colored with either synthetic dyes or minerals, only 100% Pure Cosmetics are colored with fruit and vegetable pigments (patents pending)! All the antioxidants and vitamins are in the pigments, so you will be applying all the healthy nutrients of the fruits directly on your skin.

Not only are there no harmful ingredients, but you get the benefit of antioxidants and quality moisturizers!!!  I can read the ingredients list and basically recognize and understand everything in it!  They offer a full range of makeup and skin and hair care products.  I recommend reading the FAQ page to learn more about why this company is awesome.  I was tempted to quote the entire thing, but I'll just link it.  You're welcome.

It was a gradual process, but I have now switched almost all of my makeup to this brand, and I couldn't be happier!  So far I have purchased eyebrow powder gel (huh? but I like it), eyeshadow, mascara, cheek tint and lip glaze.  Next on my list is eyeliner and lip gloss.  Another thing that makes this company awesome is their samples and gifts with purchase.  Because of this I have also gotten to try their body cream in several scents, a body scrub, face wash/mask, coffee bean eye cream, and super fruits reparative cream.    So far, I have pretty much loved every product I tried.  They almost all smell aMAZing...the body creams especially are fruity heavenliness!!  To me, the coffee bean eye cream smells exactly like buttered popcorn Jelly Bellies taste...weird, but kind of yummy.  Even the mascara smells good!  My sole product complaint is that the mascara tends to give me raccoon eyes, so I have to be vigilant against smudge.  It can also be tricky to pick out colors on a computer screen.  Finally, their products are not drugstore cheap, but you get what you pay for.  Their products are quality, and they're made in the US.  I'm happy to pay more for a product I'm this excited about.  In the future I may review individual items, but for now I just want you to know that this company exists!!

Now for the mini update.  We are still looking for land - with or without home, though not as intensely.  We are still seeking the Lord for where and when.  It's been almost a year.  This entire process started when we celebrated my mom's birthday last year, which we will do again on Sunday.  It has not been an easy process.  There are a lot of opinions, a lot of variables, and a lot of obstacles.  We've asked a lot of questions and had a lot of conversations.  "Did God really say...?"  "I'm running out of steam."  "I feel like I'm working harder than anyone else at this."  "I don't know if I want to do this anymore."  "I felt pushed out of the process."  "I'm considering just doing this on my own."  "Should we just wait until...?"  "But there will always be something to 'just wait until' for."  "Are we being too picky and delaying obedience because it's hard, or is it just not the right time?"  And so much more.  I believe all of that has been good practice, though.  Multi-generational living and working together is not easy, but we believe it's worth it.  The Lord continues to refine our vision as we continue to learn.  I'm grateful for His wisdom, His sovereignty, His leading and His timing.  And a little impatient sometimes.  But mostly just grateful.

Better Than Mineral Veil

It often goes something like this: Shoot.  I'm out of ________.  Do I have a coupon?  Can I get it cheaper online?  Wait a minute...can I make it?  Check Pinterest.  Do some research on Google.  Create.  Feel amazing because I just saved a ton of money.  Feel a sense of accomplishment that I made something from ingredients I can pronounce, that is good for me, and works as well or better as what I would have spent a lot more on at the store.

That is precisely what happened when I ran out of mineral veil several months back.  I almost dropped $20, figuring mineral based makeup was better than the alternative.  Then I was almost giddy with excitement when I realized that I could make a comparable alternative for pennies.

Here's what's in mineral veil according to the Bare Escentuals website:  

The main ingredient is cornstarch.  The other things I'm guessing are preservatives and color.  We don't keep cornstarch in the house, so I felt temporarily thwarted until I remembered the bag of arrowroot powder sitting in my cupboard, lonely and unused, since I switched to the deodorant stone (read about that here).  There are lots of cornstarch and baby powder mineral veil replacement recipes on Pinterest, but I preferred arrowroot to cornstarch and am not so interested in talc because of what I learned on my deodorant quest.  I Googled to see if anyone else had ever used arrowroot on their face, found one DIY makeup forum that mentioned it, and felt affirmed enough to forge ahead.

I washed out my used mineral veil container, filled it with arrowroot powder, and added cinnamon for color.  According to livestrong.com, "cinnamon--in both grated and essential oil forms--is beneficial to the skin because it brings blood and nutrients to the skin surface while also helping to dry skin."  I've also heard that it's antimicrobial and antibacterial.  Plus, it smells really yummy when you're putting it on!  I've been completely satisfied with it as a product...never missing the more expensive stuff for a moment.  My skin has even been significantly clearer since I stopped using commercial products on my face.  I still get an occasional blemish, but noticeably less than before.  I'm not always entirely thrilled with my homemade experiments, but I can't think of a single downside to this one!!  Yay!!!

Soon I'll tell you about how I've replaced all my makeup with healthy alternatives that I'm really excited about!!

 This post shared at frugallysustainable.com's Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways #76

Roasted Veggie Enchiladas

 I want to eat more vegetables - more fresh, locally grown, in season vegetables.  I'd like to grow them myself, but I'm finding it hard to do that while working full time and teaching piano lessons and leading worship... etc.  Confession: everything in my summer garden failed except one jalapeno plant.  And I haven't planted my fall/winter garden yet.  So what's a girl to do?  Look for a CSA!  What's that you say?  CSA stands for community supported agriculture.  You pay a local farmer a fee and get a "share" of produce.  Usually you join for a season, but I was excited to find one that lets you buy by the week.  I wasn't quite ready to commit.  I picked up my first bag last night...about 5 miles from my house.  For $20, I got a delicious cantaloupe,  beets with greens, sweet potato greens, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, eggplant, okra, and sweet peppers.  I was thrilled!  If you're interested in finding a CSA, check out Local Harvest.

I think I've only eaten eggplant once, and I don't know that I've ever eaten beets...let alone cooked with them, but I remembered reading a blog post awhile back about turnip enchiladas and the wheels started to turn.  I spent the rest of the evening reading food blogs and researching.  Then I went to bed and dreamed about vegetables all night.  Seriously.

Now I'm going to share with you the most ambiguous recipe ever...because I completely made it up.  I started by chopping the eggplant, peppers, and beets (not pictured, because they didn't look as pretty and I hadn't gotten them out of the fridge yet).

Then I tossed them with olive oil and salt and pepper and roasted them in the oven at 400° for approximately 30 minutes, until soft, tossing occasionally.

 

While the veggies roasted, I made enchilada sauce from scratch and wilted the beet greens.  Again, here comes the ambiguity.  I heated some olive oil in a pan, added some flour, and whisked until lightly browned.  I didn't have tomato sauce, so with my immersion blender I blended some chopped tomatoes until smooth (we buy Pomi chopped tomatoes because they're non GMO and BPA free), then added chili powder, cumin, oregano and garlic powder and poured it into the pan with the oil and flour mixture.  I added some water and a couple bouillon cubes and let it simmer, whisking occasionally.   

Then I washed the beet greens and heated them in a second pan until wilted. 

In the meantime, my nephew Samuel got creative with the okra and peppers on the kitchen table. 

When the veggies were soft, I pulled them out of the oven, removed the beet skins and chopped the bigger chunks into smaller pieces.

 

I poured some enchilada sauce in the bottom of my 9x13 glass baking dish (I'm avoiding aluminum and non-stick - trying to use glass or cast iron when possible, and dreaming wistfully of pricey enameled cast iron), then tossed the vegetables and greens with the remaining sauce, reserving some for the top.  I placed some veggie mixture into whole wheat tortillas, rolled them, and laid them in the pan.

When the veggie mixture was used up, I poured the remaining sauce on top, covered it with cheese, and baked until the cheese was melted.

Then we topped it with fresh, homemade salsa, ate it, and it was delicious.   

On a side note, I tasted the roasted beets and eggplant out of the oven, and the roasted beets were a revelation.  The eggplant was pretty good too.

On another side note, if people are interested, I might try to make a more specific printable of the recipe.

Legs + Safety Razors, part 1

I've been wearing jeans a lot lately.  Not so much because of the cool weather, although I'm grateful for the cooler weather because it's giving me an excuse to cover my *ahem* not-so-smooth legs.  (Why is that so hard to write?)  No, it's because I'm re-learning to shave, and it's harder than I thought it was going to be.

I've been using Gillette Venus for years, usually the kind with the built in shave gel.  Skipping a step!  So convenient!  Automatically knowing when to switch my blade!  So convenient!  (I've been thinking a lot lately about just how much we've traded for the sake of convenience...)  I used to use Schick Intuition, then did some math and realized that the Gillette version was slightly cheaper, so I switched.  Then I did some more math.  Let's do some together.  The going rate on Amazon for the 2 in 1 (razor and gel) refill is $13.97 per 4 pack.  That's basically $3.50 per cartridge.  I shave more frequently in the summer and less in the winter, so it probably averages to about one cartridge per month for me.  $3.50 a month isn't that expensive and it's not that much plastic waste.  But then I started to think about what exactly was in those moisturizing strips and built in shave gel. What am I paying $3.50 a month for?  I dug around on the internet looking for an ingredient list, but I couldn't find one...just words like jasmine, white tea, and aloe.  But surely that's not all that's in there?  I don't have a package on hand, and I don't know if they're required to list the ingredients on the package since you're not eating them.  I'll try to remember to check next time I'm in the store.

So what's a girl to do?  I wasn't sure, but then I heard about safety razors or DE (double edge) razors.  As usual, I went to Amazon and found this guy, the Merkur Model 180 Long Handled Safety Razor.  After reading hundreds of glowing reviews, I plunged ahead and gave away my old razor and extra refills.  At $32.62, it's a fairly hefty initial investment, BUT...  I also purchased a variety pack of 35 replacement blades for $12.28.  Time for some more math.  That's $.35 per blade.  $3.50 vs. $.35.  It's almost weird how that worked out.  Maybe someone should check my math...I'm really not a numbers person.  I'll keep going anyway: if you add in the cost of the razor and divide by 35 blades, that comes to $1.28 per blade.  Still less than 50% cheaper!  And no chemicals!  Not to mention the glowing reviews.  Apparently this kind of shaving is better for your skin than dragging 14 blades across it.  Okay, I exaggerated....a little.  Many people reported less skin irritation, ingrown hairs, etc.  Popular commercial razors are not much more than a marketing marvel!

Then I tried to use it.  Apparently there's a rather steep learning curve.  You really do have to learn how to shave all over again.  I did a bit of internet research and learned that things like the angle (40°), the amount of pressure (none), the lather, brushes (badger), bowls, soaps, direction of hair growth, and multiple passes are all important.  Then, in all honestly, my first attempt was an utter fail.  I went back to the internet for more help.  One of the problems, I think, is that there are probably hundreds of videos on youtube about shaving your face with a safety razor, and none about shaving your legs.  Lots of forums and resources for men, but the only thread I found about women and safety razors was men talking about their wives using their safety razors or suggesting finding a vintage Lady Gilette on ebay.  I still watched some of the videos and gleaned what I could.  My second attempt was more successful, but did not reach glowing review status.  Apparently blades come down to highly personal preference, which is why variety packs are strongly recommended...so you can find what works for you.  I'm planning to cycle through my blades and possibly purchase a badger brush, bowl, and soap to get a proper lather (those are also quite pricey).   In the meantime, I broke down and bought some cheap disposable razors with only 2 blades and no moisturizing strip, but they're only for emergency dress wearing. I'll keep working at safety razor smoothness and update you on my progress...hopefully sooner than later.

Simple Homemade Toothpaste

I inherited my mom's teeth and my dad's eyes. In other words, I never had braces or a single cavity...and I'm legally blind.  Seriously.  It's bad.  If you want to know how bad, just ask to see my glasses and hear the story behind them sometime.  At least I've been mostly fortunate in the dental DNA department.  But I've also almost always taken good care of my teeth.  A friend in college asked me once if I was a compulsive tooth brusher.  No, just a compulsive hand washer.

In my journey of late, I've decided that fluoride isn't for me...let alone synthetic chemicals and other questionable ingredients.  I'll let you do your own research and make your own decision on that one, but if for no other reason than frugality, homemade toothpaste is a great option.  As usual, I'll share with you my journey and where I've settled.  I researched several different recipes found via various blogs and Pinterest, and ended up starting with a combination of baking soda and water...just like my deodorant journey, which is almost weird if you think about it too much.  The first time I brushed my teeth with baking soda, I almost gagged, so I tried a recipe that included coconut oil and I added some cinnamon flavored liquid stevia to cover up the baking soda-ness.  I still didn't like it, but it wasn't unbearable.  I gradually adjusted, and now I can't even imagine brushing with commercial toothpaste anymore.  These days, I don't even add the coconut oil.  I make my toothpaste with two of the cheapest ingredients there are, and you probably already have them around your house.  

So here it is: baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.  I don't even measure.  I just make a paste out of those two ingredients and brush away.  The hydrogen peroxide whitens and kills germs.  Sometimes I add several drops of peppermint essential oil for extra minty freshness.  Peppermint oil also helps to kill germs, and may help in the treatment of gum disease.  Some people have concerns about the abrasive nature of baking soda, so you may want to use a soft toothbrush and brush gently.

I tried using a travel size plastic squeeze bottle to store it in, so I could squeeze it out onto my toothbrush, but it bubbled (the hydrogen peroxide) and oozed out and only made a mess.  I ended up purchasing a glass container from Specialty Bottle.  They have a great selection and good prices.  I just pour the ingredients in to make a paste, then dip my toothbrush in.  Slightly gross perhaps, but remember, I'm more grossed out by hands than mouths so it doesn't bother me too much.

I make smaller, more frequent batches.  As I mentioned earlier, it bubbles, so if you fill it too full it will bubble out of the container.  It also gradually loses it's bubbly-ness which feels like it translates to effectiveness.  I'm not actually sure, but just to be on the bubbly side...

At what point I feel inclined to buy other ingredients, I'd like to try this tooth powder recipe from one of my favorite blogs.  I've also read some posts about remineralization of teeth and may try this recipe at some point as well.  First on the list, though, are Izola's months toothbrush set for $12.50.  Izola’s toothbrushes are made from sustainable bamboo and nylon bristles, and they say about this set, "Our grandfather was a dentist and always told us to replace our toothbrush every three months.  The idea seemed simple enough, but months would pass and we found ourselves still using the same brush.  We needed a reminder, so we decided to put it right on the handle."  Attractive, practical, and sustainable!  What more can a girl ask for?

Have you ever tried making your own toothpaste?  Do you think you ever will?

The Great Deodorant Debate

It took me approximately 23 seconds to decide to stop using commercial antiperspirant.  Sweat: good.  Odor causing bacteria: bad.  Sweat is one of the biggest ways our body rids itself of toxins, and as much as possible, I don't want to mess with the way my body was designed to function.  Plus, aluminum-based compounds are used as the active ingredient in antiperspirants, and buildup of aluminum in the brain has been linked to Alzheimer's disease...not to mention other things I'm trying to avoid like petroleum products, parabens, and artificial fragrances.  Deciding to switch was easy; finding a replacement I was truly happy with wasn't.  

I started with the "easiest recipe ever" that I discovered on another blog.  (I briefly looked for the post just now, but couldn't find it.)  This particular woman made a paste of water and baking soda and, voila!  I was pretty excited...easy peasy, I didn't have to buy anything extra, and you can't get any cheaper than that.  It worked great in the odor department, and I was very happy for about two weeks (even though I didn't love applying with my fingers).  Then irritation hit...hard.  

I thought that adding some moisturizing ingredients and lessening the amount of baking soda would help, so I switched to the recipe that's all over Pinterest and the blogosphere: a mixture of coconut oil, baking soda, and cornstarch or arrowroot powder.  I purchased and used the arrowroot powder because most corn produced in the US is genetically modified.  Again, in the odor and expense department I was completely satisfied, but still didn't love applying with my fingers; and though less intense, I was still dealing with irritation.

I switched to another recipe from one of my favorite blogs, adding still more moisturizing ingredients and still less baking soda.  This time, I put the concoction in an old dispenser as suggested.  I definitely preferred this method of application, but because coconut oil melts at 76° it was fairly messy and it was hard to only apply a little bit.  Also, because it is made of mostly oils and butters, it left a greasy residue on my clothes and stained my white tank tops...and I was still dealing with a bit of irritation.

I figured I would try again, leaving out the baking soda altogether, until a visiting friend asked me about crystal deodorant stones.  I had heard of them and briefly looked into them, but was initially more interested in finding something I could make myself.  At this point, though, I was irritated enough (pun intended) to warrant giving it further thought.  I read through probably 100 reviews on Amazon, and finding mostly satisfied customers and no apparent health dangers, I thought I would give it a try. 

I purchased the Thai brand 4.25 oz stone from my local health food store for about $7, and I couldn't be happier!  The stone is made from crystallized natural mineral salts which kill odor causing bacteria.  Application is easy and finger-free; you simply get it wet then apply to underarm area.  It has kept me stink-free, even in 113° weather, PLUS, there's no staining or greasy residue.  Huzzah!  It's proving to be very economical too.  After a couple months of use, it barely even looks used.  I suspect this guy could last me at least a year!  Think about all those plastic antiperspirant containers that won't end up in a landfill!  I also like that except for the base, the stone is not in contact with the plastic packaging, so I don't have to worry about chemicals leaching from the plastic.  It comes in spray and roll on versions, which my sister has tried and liked, but I'm happy with the stone.

The bottom line is, every person's body chemistry is unique, and you have to find what works for you.  Not everyone will be as sensitive to baking soda as I apparently am, and many, many people have been happy with various coconut oil recipes.  But, hopefully my experiences can help expedite your process...should you choose to proceed.